Thoracic Key

Ventricular Tachycardia Nitish Badhwar, MD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Nonsustained: three or more consecutive QRS complexes of uniform configuration of ventricular origin at a rate of more than 100 bpm….

Cardiac Tumors Bill P.C. Hsieh, MDRita F. Redberg, MD, MSc   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS An uncommon but important differential diagnosis of cardiac masses. Diagnosis is suspected by history, physical examination,…

Tricuspid & Pulmonic Valve Disease Brian D. Hoit, MD Michael H. Crawford, MD TRICUSPID VALVE DISEASE   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Tricuspid regurgitation Prominent v wave in jugular venous pulse. Systolic…

Pulmonary Embolic Disease Sandeep A. Saha, MBBSRajni K. Rao, MD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Otherwise unexplained dyspnea, tachypnea, or chest pain. Clinical, electrocardiogram, or echocardiographic evidence of acute cor pulmonale….

Aortic Stenosis Steven J. Lester, MDAmr E. Abbas, MD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS History: angina, dyspnea, syncope. Physical examination: midsystolic murmur; small and slow rising carotid pulse contour (parvus et…

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy James A. Goldstein, MD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Predominant biventricular diastolic dysfunction with lesser impairment of systolic performance. Symptomatic presentation: • Chronic biventricular “backward failure” manifest as dyspnea…

Aortic Regurgitation Michael H. Crawford, MD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Following a long asymptomatic period, presentation with heart failure or angina. Wide pulse pressure with associated peripheral signs. Diastolic decrescendo…

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Sanjiv J. Shah, MD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Symptoms and signs of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF > 50%). Presence…

Acute Myocardial Infarction Andrew J. Boyle, MBBS, PhD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Chest discomfort, usually described as “pressure,” “dull,” “squeezing,” or “aching.” Characteristic electrocardiographic changes. Elevated biomarkers, such as troponin….

Cardiovascular Disease in Pregnancy Kirsten Tolstrup, MD   ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS Pregnancy. History of heart disease. Symptoms and signs of heart disease. Echocardiographic or other objective evidence of heart disease….